From: "Terry Blanton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: OT Re: July 4
> > From: "Stephen A. Lawrence > > > Mike Carrell wrote: > > > > >In the early 1400s China was *the* great power and an immense fleet was > > >built and launched to map the world and bring it under the Chinese tribute > > >system. The world was mapped, and America discovered in 1421. Philip the > > >Navigator of Portugal and Columbus had seen copies of the Chinese maps. > > > > > > > Really? Columbus had seen Chinese maps showing America? Then why was > > he so confused about the size of the world and so totally ignorant of > > the possibility that there might be another continent lurking between > > Europe and China? > > http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/24/features/chinam.php > > Can you imagine America being named after Zheng He? ;-) ------------------------ Thanks to Terry for spotting this article with a direct quote supporting my remark about Columbus having seen the Chinese maps. The above link gives a good capsule summary with more evidence pouring forth. Years ago I was fascinated by Hapgood's "Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings" which took the map of Piri Reis and others and showed an ancient comprehension of the world, with accurate longitude, that was beyond the technology of Europe at the time the maps were created. It all suggested satellite mapping. Now comes the Chinese maps, and perhaps earlier ones of the Mongols that establishes a human, although epic, accomplishment. There is a **lot** about the past achievements of humanity of which we are ignorant through temporal and Eurocentric chauvinism. America might legitimately be named after Zhend He if it were not for the centralized power of the Ming emperor, his excesses [including the great fleets] and the heaven-sent lightning bolt that burned his palace in the Forbidden City, leading to his downfall, and the turning inward of China whenthe great fleets returned. They had no great treasure, had not discovered great civilizations to bring tribute to China, so the merchant fleets were scrapped. Only now is China recovering from that mistake. Knights Templar? European provincial politics by comparison. No nation in Europe remotely had the capability that the Chinese did at the height of their weath and power. Mike Carrell > > > >
